diaphragm.

[lozzzz]

Can anybody share any experience of this form of contraception with me? I have looked up info on net,and am going to my gp soon,but I would like some real life feed back if poss..

[soozmac]

I used one for about a year when I was at Uni, and it worked brilliantly for me. You have to leave it in for 12 hours afterwards, and unless you're squeamish, taking it out and putting it in are no probs. It is designed to fit you, so if you gain or lose any weight, you need to get refitted.

I found the only downside was having to use spermicide suppositories if you go for another round of bedroom olympics. You pop one in and wait till it melts, and the feeling is kind of, well, foamy. It's not like the gel you initially put round the outside of the cap. But if you are lucky enough to have a man who can go all night, then you might end up faffing around a lot with suppositories and spermicide gels.

Mind you, a friend of mine has a 4 year old son, all thanks to her cap, so maybe I was just lucky.

[lozzzz]

thanks soozmac,,just the kinda of stuff that I was interested in,would you mind telling me what happened initially,you are fitted for one I take it,and have a lesson on how to fit it?

[lady_p_gold]

They are not used so much these days but they are easy to use and another use is that if you happen to have your period at an awkward time you can use it to keep everything at bay for the evening if you get my drift.  I would however add that if you are very fertile they are not as safe as something like the pill.  Don't wash it and leave it on the side of your in-laws bath all day without realising  (my most embarrassing moment !!!!)

[soozmac]

The doctor can fit you with one - she will give you one which exactly fits you, which is why it is important to make sure you get a new one if you lose or (shudder) gain weight. No, you don't need any special training to put it in and take it out, as long as you're not squeamish you should be grand. You put spermicide round the outside edge, bend it in half (it has wire in the rim to keep it in shape) to make it a semi-circle, and slide it in. It pops back into shape and fits right where it should be, creating a vacuum. To take it out, you have to hook your finger underneath the rim and slip it out (trying not to giggle at the farting noise it makes).

I was going to put the thing about keeping your period at bay, just didn't know the nicest way to phrase it! I would agree that it's maybe not the safest method, but then again, nothing but abstinance is.

I also left mine on my aunt's bathroom window ledge once. That was 6 years ago, and I still can't look her in the eye....

[lozzzz]

thanks so much,that answered some of my questions..

do you put it in just before or sometime in advance?

[soozmac]

from what I remember, you put it in just before, and then leave it in for 12 hours afterwards. The spermicide works instantly, which is why it doesn't have to be put in any certain amount of time beforehand (what a spontaneity killer that would be - "when are we having sex, darling - in half an hour or an hour?"). The only time you need to wait is if you have round 2, and then you need to crack out the suppositories, which take 10 mins or so to melt and become effective.

Honestly, do you think men would go to all this hassle?